Valentine’s Day is Killing Me by MaryJanice Davidson, Leslie Esdaile, Susanna Carr

Cuffs and Coffee Breaks by MaryJanice Davidson: Julie Kay About learns the pitfalls of a Valentine’s Day blind date when she shows up at the restaurant, only to find her date being lead away in handcuffs and a dead body lying next to the table.

A “No Drama” Valentine’s by Leslie Esdaile: After a string of bad dates, Jocelyn Jefferson arranges a Valentine’s party for her friends, where no men were allowed. But when her friends choose dates over her company, Jocelyn goes through with her party anyway, only to watch it spin completely out of control landing her in jail.

Valentine Survivor by Susanna Carr: Last year, Shanna Murphy decided she can’t rely on a man to give her what she needs on Valentine’s Day, so she arranges everything herself, just in case she finds the right man before the appointed day.

Valentine’s Day isn’t killing me, this book is (okay, I couldn’t resist). None of the three stories really worked for me. Each story had a different set of problems, either lame characters, incoherent story or just poor writing. Even though the book did have problems, I do plan to give the authors a second chance in the future, as it’s quite possible that they had trouble meeting the theme for this book. But if you haven’t read this book by now, I’d save it for next Valentine’s Day where it may be totally forgotten in your to-be-read pile.

Details: Kensington, January 2007

Excellence Rating: Good

Steaminess Factor: Yummy

Share The Darkness by Jill Monroe

Hannah Garrett is a woman with many secrets. Secrets that Ward Coleman of the FBI needs to know in order to solve his latest case. Hannah is at the top of his list of suspects for a crime and her suspicious behavior is triggering alarms all over the place in his mind. Hannah’s secrets are necessary because if anyone found out who she really was, she’d be dead in no time. But Hannah is torn. Can she spend the rest of her life in hiding or is she willing to open herself up to the handsome FBI agent?

Where the heck is Gallem and why did the city turn off the electricity in the middle of summer? Perhaps this plot device was so artificial that it prevented me from enjoying the story. I felt that the book had a fairly slow beginning. And while the sex was pretty good, especially the elevator scene, I felt disconnected from both characters – especially the hero. I did enjoy the ending, and it almost made up for the other problems in the book.

Details: Blaze #245, April 2006

Bottom line: A good book

My Favorite Witch by Annette Blair

The sequel to The Kitchen Witch, explores the life of Kira Fitzgerald after she’s dumped her cheating fiancé. She meets hockey star, Jason Pickering Goddard, who has been sidelined with an injury. His grandmother cons him into taking over the role of Director of Special Events for the Pickering Foundation where he runs into Kira. Together they capitalize on Jason’s popularity as the winner of the Worlds Best Kisser reality TV show to raise money for an orphanage.

If you were expecting a traditional paranormal book, you’ll be disappointed. Witchcraft doesn’t play a strong part in the story, though it does contribute to some of the humor. The conflict between Kira and Jason seems a little forced at times, while the story line is also a little too predictable. However there are some very funny scenes, a few of which I’m sure I’ll remember for a long time.

Details: Berkley Sensational, January 2006

Bottom line: An good book